Nothing, and no one, was going to bring Rachel Berry down today. She was about to deliver a phenomenal performance for her audition for the part of Maria in West Side Story, Finn had been encouraging her (and therefore only paying attention to her) all day, and maybe, just maybe, things with Shelby would work out after all.

She couldn't be happier.

Currently, she was sitting backstage in the auditorium, waiting for her brother to show up – it was nothing like Blaine to be late, especially since they'd agreed to meet up and audition together. Rachel would not be amused if he wasn't there on time.

"Sorry I'm late, Rach," he apologised as he finally arrived. "I was… talking to Kurt, and we lost track of time."

"You were talking to Kurt? Why?" Rachel asked, somewhat confusedly. "Blaine, he's your main rival for the part of Tony! You're not supposed to be fraternising with the enemy, even though, admittedly, you've got a better chance at getting the role than he does since you appear to be just slightly more manly, at least to people who don't know you as well as I do, but – "

"So why were you talking and laughing with Mercedes earlier?" Blaine retorted. "She's auditioning for Maria too, after all."

Rachel waved away his concern. "She isn't a threat to me, Blaine, you know that."

Before her brother could reply, she walked out, onto the stage, to face the three directors with her usual confidence. Blaine could only follow her and sing with her, just like they'd rehearsed.

And just like Rachel had expected, they sounded amazing. They had, after all, been singing together since they were both still in diapers, and she supposed that nothing could really beat that.

Once they were done, they got a small applause from the three directors, and while Ms Pillsbury and coach Beiste could barely stop praising them and their vocal talents, Artie was a little more quiet.

"So…," he eventually said, looking slightly uncomfortable, "you two are both auditioning for the lead roles?"

Rachel smiled winningly, and she knew Blaine was doing the same next to her. This must be the moment where they were both given the parts, no matter who their competition was. "Of course," she replied.

Artie gave them a curt nod. "You do realise that means you'll play opposite each other… romantically?"

Rachel and Blaine only stared at him in shock. How hadn't they thought of that before? They knew that Tony and Maria were lovers, and that they were going for the parts of Tony and Maria. How had they never realised that they'd have to act as if they were in love and – even worse – kiss on stage?

"No, no," Rachel eventually spluttered. "There must be a solution."

"If you two are really opposed to playing two lovers – " coach Beiste started, and both Blaine and Rachel nodded frantically. Rachel couldn't imagine having to kiss, or make-out, with her baby brother – even if he wasn't really that much of a baby, but still. She was born to be an actress, and she was more talented than many of the current stars, but kissing Blaine? Definitely not. "We'll just have to select someone else to play opposite one of you," the football coach finished.

"I don't mind kissing Kurt," Rachel volunteered – and yes, she knew that she'd massively screwed up just the day before when trying to help him audition again, but that didn't mean she was completely opposed to kissing him. "Finn'll understand. After all, Kurt's his stepbrother and Finn knows he's gay, so it'll all be fine. Besides, Kurt dated Brittany for a week in sophomore year, he wouldn't mind kissing a girl."

"Neither do I," Blaine said. "In case you'd forgotten, Rachel, I've kissed girls as well."

"You kissed one girl," Rachel corrected him. "While you were drunk. That doesn't count."

"Doesn't mean I mind kissing a girl for a play," Blaine insisted.

"Blaine, I'm not kissing you," Rachel repeated.

Blaine shrugged. "Mercedes is auditioning for Maria tomorrow, isn't she?"

"Blaine, we've discussed this," Rachel hissed at him, not happy at all that they were having this discussion now, in front of the directors. "I need this part to get into NYADA. I'm a senior, so I deserve this more than you do. You still have another chance at playing lead next year, I don't. Come to think about it – neither does Kurt."

"Or Mercedes," Blaine retorted.

"We'll figure something out," Artie's voice suddenly rang out, and the two siblings finally glanced up again. The three directors were leaving already.

"Please remember, I don't mind kissing Kurt!" Rachel called after them in a final attempt to convince them. Now she only needed to talk to Finn – and maybe Kurt, too.

Blaine, however, hadn't moved. "What if I do?" he muttered.

"Sorry, what?" Rachel asked, still rather happy about the audition. It had gone tremendously well, after all.

"What if I mind?" he repeated, slightly more harshly, and Rachel took a step back when she saw the frustration in his face. "What if I mind you kissing him, Rachel? I've been in love with him for two years now and he'll never spare me a second glance, let alone kiss me, and then you barge in with your clever plans and your – your backstabbing because I thought we were going to do this together, so you'd get to kiss him an infinite amount of times without it meaning anything and… how's that supposed to make me feel? That you can just kiss the guy I'm in love with even though he's gay, while I know that I'll never have that chance?"

With that, Blaine stormed out of the auditorium (if he hadn't been angry with her now, she'd compliment his storming out talent and maybe give him a few pointers), leaving Rachel to wonder what on earth had just happened.